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With 12 teams in the MLB playoffs, there are 36 possible World Series matchups. Explore six intriguing pairings, from small-market showdowns to long-suffering fanbases.
With 12 teams in the MLB playoffs, there are 36 possible World Series matchups for the 2026 Fall Classic. This year's playoff field features a mix of small-market contenders and deep-pocketed behemoths, including three franchises that have won a World Series and a fourth with the longest title drought in the sport. Here are six matchups that would be fun to see, using all 12 teams.
Top Seeds Collide: Rays vs. Brewers
Since 2018, the Milwaukee Brewers are fourth in the majors in wins and the Tampa Bay Rays sixth. Although they have combined to miss the playoffs just four times in 18 seasons, the only World Series appearance came from Tampa Bay in the shortened 2020 season. The Brewers have not been to a World Series since 1982 and remain without a championship since the franchise was born as the Seattle Pilots in 1969.
Neither team was expected to be the top team in its respective league coming into the season. The Brewers, despite having the majors' best record in 2025, were just 11th in ESPN's preseason power rankings -- perhaps understandable given they lost rotation members Freddy Peralta and Jose Quintana over the winter (and Quinn Priester then missed the entire season). Milwaukee more than held serve, leading the majors in games started by rookie pitchers while winning 100 games for the first time in franchise history.
The Rays, meanwhile, were just 21st in the preseason rankings. They overcame a seasonlong injury to Ryan Pepiot as Nick Martinez and Drew Rasmussen had great years in the rotation while Bryan Baker locked down the ninth inning and Junior Caminero powered the offense. Combined years without a championship: 85.
Five players to fill out your Immaculate Grid: Hideo Nomo, Greg Vaughn, Julio Franco, Nelson Cruz, Ben Grieve. 2026 tie-in between teams: Rasmussen and Jake Bauers.
The two small-market franchises operate similarly but have been frequent trade partners, making at least one trade every year since 2021. Tampa Bay ace Rasmussen came over from the Brewers as part of the Willy Adames trade in 2021. The Rays converted him into a starter, and Rasmussen has a 2.71 ERA in his six years in Tampa, battling injuries along the way but now with back-to-back 30-start seasons. Bauers, who led the National League in on-base percentage, reached the majors with the Rays in 2018 but was traded after the season to Cleveland in a deal that returned Yandy Diaz to Tampa Bay (the Rays are so good at this stuff). Bauers eventually passed through Seattle, Cincinnati and New York before eventually landing in Milwaukee in 2024 and producing a career season this year.
Why this would be fun: Both teams are sort of outliers in this era of power ball, ranking in the bottom third in home runs, with the Brewers last in the majors for much of the season. They rank 1-2 in batting average and will deploy some old-school small ball -- the Rays led the majors in both sacrifice bunts and bunt hits while both teams finished in the top five in stolen bases. Both are also exceptional defensive teams. The style of play on display would be enticing for fans tired of three-true-outcomes-style offense. Plus, both teams deserve to be here as the top regular-season team in their respective leagues.
Since the wild-card era began in 1995, the nature of baseball's postseason makes it rare for the top seeds to meet in the World Series. It has happened just five times: 1995 (Braves over Cleveland); 1999 (Yankees over Braves); 2013 (Red Sox over Cardinals); 2020 (Dodgers over Rays); and 2024 (Dodgers over Yankees).
Best potential drama: Aside from the whole This is the World Series that might save baseball for 2027 since it will be harder to argue the Dodgers are ruining baseball if we get this matchup of small-market teams drama? How about Tampa Bay catcher Liam Hicks versus the Milwaukee base stealers. Hicks has done most of the catching for the Rays since coming over from Miami at the trade deadline, but he is in the lineup for his bat, not for his throwing abilities at the plate. He has a below-average arm and the Brewers like to run, with seven players in double digits in steals.
Long-Suffering Fanbases: Guardians vs. Padres
If you want long-suffering fanbases to feel joy: Guardians vs. Padres. The San Diego Padres have not won a World Series since joining the NL in 1969 and have been knocking on the door since 2020, making the playoffs five times in seven seasons -- but their fans' suffering is nothing compared to that of the Cleveland Guardians' fans. Cleveland has not won the World Series since 1948, the longest drought in the majors.
If we do get this matchup, one request: Both teams must wear 1970s throwback uniforms for one game. The same game. And we mean the Guardians wearing those all-red uniforms they wore from 1975 to 1977 and the Padres wearing those mustard yellow uniforms they wore in 1972 and 1973.
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